Luther Burrell: Northampton centre has no Sam Burgess grudge

Luther Burrell says he has no issue with Sam Burgess over the rugby league convert’s England World Cup selection.

England left Northampton centre Burrell, 27, out of the squad in favour of Burgess, 26, who has since returned to league with South Sydney Rabbitohs.

“I have got no grudge against Sam. He didn’t put himself in the team. He had an opportunity of a lifetime and he was able to live that dream,”

“I had to get behind the team, stomach what happened and try to support them.”

Burgess featured in England’s opening three World Cup matches before being dropped for the final fixture against Uruguay as the side went out in the group stages.

He subsequently left Premiership side Bath just one year into a three-year deal earlier this month to return to Sydney.

“He’s gone back to a game he probably knows better and probably is better suited to. He’s a fantastic icon in Australia and Sydney and he’s going to be a huge asset in rugby league,” Burrell, capped 13 times by England, told BBC Radio Northampton.

“I put on the TV and watch the NRL and get behind him and his brothers. He’s a player that grew up not so far from me in west Yorkshire so we’ve known about each other for a while.

“For me it was about wishing him the best of luck, my issue wasn’t with him whatsoever.”